DANIEL PRODAN'S proposed transfer to Everton has collapsed after the Romanian captain failed to agree personal terms with the Blues.

The defender was due to complete a free transfer from Rocur Bucharest after spending a week on trial with Walter Smith's squad in Italy recently.

Prodan arrived on Merseyside with his agents last week to tie up the deal and underwent a thorough medical after missing two seasons at Glasgow Rangers with serious knee problems.

But neither side could come to an agreement over the player's contract and Everton have now decided to shelve the deal.

Manager Walter Smith is anxious to bolster his squad before the start of the new season in less than a fortnight's time, but is still waiting on Michael Ball's #7million move to Rangers before he can swoop again. Ball has not yet put pen to paper on his proposed transfer to the Scottish giants as expected yesterday, but the player's representative Trevor Steven insists the deal will be concluded within "the next 48 hours".

Former Goodison and Ibrox favourite Steven maintains there is no threat to the transfer it is merely a case of Rangers waiting for the outcome of Ball's medical before finally committing to the deal.

"There is a hold-up but it is more to do with the player having a medical before the whole thing is concluded," said Steven.

"But the move is not in jeopardy it is just a case of due diligence.

"He is undergoing medical tests which will be concluded tomorrow and we will get to a resolution after that. The deal is delayed to within 48 hours it is just the club showing due diligence, that s all. But we are still confident that the deal will go through."

Smith's bid for Coventry goalkeeper Magnus Hedman, meanwhile, is in doubt after the Sky Blues demanded a fee rising to #3.75m for their Swedish international.